Im a 2017 and I am following the recruiting timeline. My dream school would be UGA and I am thinking about going to their Prospect Camp this winter. Would this be helpful to me at all?
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At this point in your process, it's probably more meaningful for you develpmentally than it might be for the UGA coaches. Because it will be full of players older than you, it'll give you a good opportunity to see what players of that age are capable of doing on the field.
It's always good to be able to visualize what all of the hard work you'll be putting in can lead to. Meanwhile, you're sure to pick up plenty of pointers both behind and at the plate; ones that you can carry home with you to work on.
Also, because most of the players can be expected to be older than you, you can expect the coaches' attention to be more focused upon them from a recruiting perspective. However, it won't hurt for them to become familiar with you.
Keep following the recruiting timeline. You're well ahead of many of your competitors by paying attention to it this early.
It's also really great that you're taking such an active role in planning your future path in the sport. Believe me, it will pay you MANY dividends over time.
Coach Stricklin (and other fine coaches like him) recognize it when players have stepped up to the responsibility of developing themselves, both athletically and academically. That certainly includes accepting responsibility for the lion's share of one's recruitment.
Best of luck to you!
Thanks for the great reply! I am thinking if I did attend the camp, it would be too get better but also for them to get to know me, if I continued to attend the camp.
Raidercatcher you go to east Paulding?
Yes.
I would say yes. My son went to a couple of camps as a freshman and learned alot from things mentioned above. Thing is you never know where the coaches will end up and if you make an impression oppurtunity follows. My son had a couple of offers from schools that the coaches ended up at and saw him as a freshman somewhere else. They remembered him and had notes from his freshman showing. Go for it. Only comes around once and have fun.
Don't spend a lot of money. The likelihood that it will matter is not very high. however, if you have money to blow it will at least get you used to these events.
I agree with 24. The biggest thing that you will get is perspective, or as I like to say, how big the pond is. My son went to the GT camp last MLK day. I met a parent who was there for "draft position". His son was good but we obviously had different priorities. The worst thing that could happen is that you have a bad day. It will not be held against you unless you let your emotions take over. At your age they are looking for projectability and for attitude. They can't sign you and they can't talk to you other than at camps unless you call them. Do it to get experience and show that you are the right kind of player. It will work out. PS runout everything.
Originally Posted by Aleebaba:
Don't spend a lot of money. The likelihood that it will matter is not very high. however, if you have money to blow it will at least get son used to these events.
The OP is the player who is considering going to the camp; not his parent.
Sorry, I missed that.
We did this with our son. He went to Kent States Camp. It really opened his eyes about where he stood athletically.
The coach also took some time out of the camp to talk about Grades. After that son realized how important grades actually were. After that he hit the books and grades really improved.
While he did not go D1, he did go D3 and the advice about the grades and the work it took play baseball in college helped him. It was an eye opener. He decided to cast a wider net and make sure not to turn down opportunities based on NCAA level.
Originally Posted by BishopLeftiesDad:
He decided to cast a wider net and make sure not to turn down opportunities based on NCAA level.
Great advice, BLD!
...and, I'll bet that the Kent State coach that day was none other than UGA's new Head Coach, Scott Stricklin.
Our 2017 just went to one at his "dream school" in Southern California in August - it was an amazing opportunity! There were many compliments and nods from the coaching staff which have really lit a fire in our son. It was also incredibly eye-opening for him to see the competition and to do well against the competition (which came from as far away as Japan and Hawaii, as well!) He's attending another prospect camp this weekend and is really looking forward to it!
Originally Posted by RaiderCatcher:
Im a 2017 and I am following the recruiting timeline. My dream school would be UGA and I am thinking about going to their Prospect Camp this winter. Would this be helpful to me at all?
Have you decided yet if you will attend? My son, also a 2017 catcher has been asked to attend. We realize it is a bit early for a freshman, but we are looking at it as a chance to get some experience. We don't expect anything more. A lot can change in the next few years.